Process of making a pectous composition



v Patented'Dec. 26, 19:33

I PROCESS F MAKINGQA PEo'rous COMPOSITION v Adolf Hawerlander, St. Joseph, Mo., assig iior to" Albert 'D. Stewart, 'St. Joseph, Mo.; Hazel Stewart administratrix of said'n lbert D. stewart, deceased I No Drawing. Application June Serial No, 618,304

, The present invention relates to a plastic composition, and more particularly tO'a plastic com-I position derived from pectose or pectous substances and to the process. of producing same; The primary object of the invention to.

provide a new composition of matteradapted to a I r ableretardin aeent-w i h i prevent the various uses. 1

In one form the new composition of matter is adapted to serve as an impregnating material 1. in the lamination of impregnated sheets of fibrous materials and fabrics; to serve as a binder in the preparation of face-coatings, whitewashings, plaster-coatings, or adhesive.

The new composition of matter may be used advantageously as a new binder for abrasive materials, such as carborundum or aluminum oxide. Also, it may be employed in the manufacture of composition wood,*for instance where it is 20 mixed with sawdust'or comminuted fibers and pressed into hard, dense boards or panels of any desired size and thickness. Again, the material may have mixed I therewith a pigment or a body filler such as woed-flour, comminuted or pow- "derized fibers of any desired material, et cetera,

and in this condition maybe used as a thermosetting, plastic molding composition for molding of articles in any desired form, shape or size.

The plastic composition of the present invention may be employed advantageously in con-' nection with the saturation of felted, water-laid fiber sheets and in connection with the processes of paper making. For instance, it may be employed in aqueous suspension or in connection with other solvents, vehicles or diluents.

In its final stage the new product is infusible and also insoluble in such's'olvents as acetone, amyl-acetate, nitro-benzene, ethylalcohol, Woodspirits, et cetera. Also, in the final stage, the

40 product is highly resistive to theaction of acids or alkalis. Y

The new composition of matter is preferably compounded or produced by subjecting pectose, an aldehyde, and an excess or a ketone to a heating process under conditions resulting in the elimination of ammonia and the production of a compound having the properties of indefinite solubility and fusibility.

When, prior to this invention, pectous substances, such as can be derived from the nonfibrous residue from vegetable fibrous material, such as wheat straw were reacted in the presence of formaldehyde and a condensing agent, an intermediate condensation product was pro- 'duced which was initially soluble and fusible,

as a glue or otherbut in the'courseof time or, under the influence of external temperature increase, it changed into an'infusible, insoluble condensation product; the state ,of solubility ,andju'sibility could not be controlled or maintained indefinitely.

:I-havefound in theiketones and ketenes a intermediate stage of condensation from pro-M gressing, without the possibility, of control, into the final condensation stage or stage which renders the material useless and worthless to any further processing. r

Agreat number of ketones and ketenes are available and suitable for the purpose of my invention such as, for instance, acetone, mesityloxide, anthraquinone, et cetera, also the cyclohexanone and related cyclic-ketones and ketenes are included. i

In order to clearly. describe my invention, I willnow give an example of one way of processing the pectous substance, it being understood,

of course, that other methods, procedures, as well as variations in the amounts of chemicals em-, ployed will be within the scope of my invention; also I do not wish to confine myself to any limit I of time or to the exact temperatures mentioned: i

parts pectous substance,

100 parts formaldehyde, 40% strength, and 200 parts acetone are mixed together with about 15 parts of sodium hydroxide. The liquid mass is agitated and brought to the boiling point and kept boiling until all of the ammonia is eliminated. The liquid mass is then cooled and can be used in composing various compositions.

The sodium hydroxide is used as a reacting agent to eliminate the nitrogen from the mixture, which evaporates in the form of ammonia gas. If no res tarding agent was used in themixture, the mass would harden and become insoluble and infusible before the nitrogen has been driven off. I have found in the ketone and ketene group a suitable retarding agent which, when added to the pectous substances and the mixture delays the reaction until the nitrogen contained in the pectous substances is eliminated in the form of ammonia gas by reaction with sodium hydroxide.

Also, the retarding agent allows the application of a more intense heat and a longer period for application of the heat so that all of the ammonia can be driven off. This is proven by the fact that the sodium hydroxide remains, at least partially, in the remaining mass. fi o It shall be noted that the liquid mass is soluble and fusible and will stay indefinitely in that condition. In order to change the liquid mass into the infusible and insoluble state, a hardening agent such as hexamethylenetetramin is added which will dissolve in the liquid mass and the mass subjected to sufficient heat to induce infusibi-li'ty or insolubility in the presence of the hardening agent. It is my belief that the hardening agent restores the nitrogen which is removed'during'the initial reaction; therefore, any nitrogenoushardening agent or agent forming nitrogen in the reaction may be used.

For produci a se tine: mplsi n com- )ound utilizing the plastic composition of the present invention, the procedure may be as follows;

Equal parts by weight of fillerypigmentgplaisj'tic' composition and of hardening agent are mixed in a vacuum mixer or kneading machine and when thoroughly intermixed the mixture is charged "n-to a mold. ""I'he"mold'maybepressed between the heated platens? of a hydraulic press under about 2,000 pounds pressure per squareinch. The molding eornpoundfirst becom'es plas'tic and will fill all the-cavities nd-inner contour of "the r5011? and will trieir aruen into a homo eneous product representing the exact shape, size and c r'vature" of "the"mcfld,' the product becoming" at r tin :perm tin wa e and good lustre. It is to be understood, of course,

that the pigments and fillers may be omitted without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of producing a condensation product, which comprises mixing a non-fibrous pectous' residue, acetone and formaldehyde in the presence of an alkaline reacting agent, subjectmg the mixture to the action of heat at a temperatiire approximating the boiling point of the mass, continuing the heat treatment until a homogeneous. soluble substance is produced, mixing this substancewitha hardening agent, and subjecting. the resulting mass to heat until the mass becomes infusible'and insoluble.

2. A process of producing a condensation product, which comprises mixing the non-fibrous pectou'sresidue derived from wheat straw with an aldehydeand a ketone in the presence of an alkaline reacting agent, subjecting the mixture to the action of heat at a temperature approximating the boiling point of'the mass, continuing the heat tre'atmentuntila homogeneous, soluble substance 7 is produced;"mixingthe. resultant substance with a hardening agent,'and subjecting the mixed mass toheati'untilthe mass becomes insoluble and infusible.

f ADOLF HAWERLANDER. 

